Early Friday morning, a Russian ballistic missile attack on Ukraine's capital Kyiv resulted in the tragic death of at least one person and left nine others injured, according to officials. The attack, which Moscow claimed was in retaliation for a Ukrainian strike on Russian soil using American-made weapons, caused significant damage to residential buildings, medical facilities, schools, and kindergartens in the city.
Ukraine's air force reported intercepting five Iskander short-range ballistic missiles aimed at Kyiv, with the attack causing disruptions to heating in hundreds of buildings and sparking fires in multiple districts. The city administration urged citizens to respond promptly to ballistic attack threats to seek shelter in a timely manner due to the urgency of the situation.
Throughout the nearly three-year conflict, Russia has frequently targeted civilian areas in Ukraine, often aiming to disrupt the power grid and instill fear among Ukrainians. In response, Ukraine, facing the challenge of defending against Russia's superior military forces, has launched strikes on Russian infrastructure supporting the war effort.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the missile strike on Kyiv was a direct response to a Ukrainian missile attack on Russia's Rostov border region two days earlier. The Ukrainian attack reportedly utilized American-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles and Storm Shadow air-launched missiles from the United Kingdom.
Following the escalation, Russia introduced a new hypersonic missile named Oreshnik, which President Vladimir Putin suggested could be used to target government buildings in Kyiv. In a subsequent retaliatory move, the Defense Ministry claimed to have conducted a precise strike on Ukraine's military intelligence agency and other strategic locations involved in the production of Neptune missile systems.
The Defense Ministry's operation also targeted Ukrainian ground-based cruise missile systems and U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems. While the ministry asserted that all objectives of the strike were successfully achieved, independent verification of these claims was not immediately available.
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has intensified with the use of advanced weaponry and strategic strikes on both sides, raising concerns about further escalation and civilian casualties. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely as tensions persist in the region.
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